BLISSFUL IGNORANCE

Eyghon Chapter 6: Back on the job

A few weeks later, everything was back to normal. Normalcy had undergone a few changes during Sydney's absence though. Obviously, Irina was not in CIA custody anymore and the CIA was looking for her, but most of all, Francie knew the truth about her friend's job and they could talk about it. Jack had told her everything about the CIA and SD-6. There was no other way to explain Sydney's sudden loss of memory.

Will Tippin had helped a lot, but it had warranted him Francie's wrath for a few days. He had known all along and hadn't told her. She had been jealous at first, she told Sydney, but then she had understood and accepted that things were what they were. Sydney was glad she didn't have to lie anymore. It was so tiring and painful.

A briefing had been called in on this sunny Monday morning, exactly five weeks after Sydney's return to Los Angeles. The CIA had made a breakthrough on Sydney's loss of memory in Florence.

Echelon had intercepted a communication between two unknown parties. The trade involved a bottle of the Rambaldi fluid and a manuscript. The CIA wanted the fluid for obvious reasons, because it was related to their top agent's kidnapping and loss of memory. The DSR had contacted the CIA about the manuscript, which was apparently involved in one of their project. The project turned out to be something much bigger.

Kendall was furious to learn that the DSR had acquired a Rambaldi prophecy months earlier without informing the CIA.

An analyst from the DSR was sent to the meeting to bring the agents up to speed about the information disclosed in the prophecy. According to him, it spoke briefly of 'The Rambaldi fluid' and of 'The Passenger' but didn't explain the relation between the two. It suggested a manuscript gave more details though, and the DSR hoped the one about to be sold was the one they were looking for.

Eventually, an irritated Kendall managed to make the man confess that the DSR knew more than they let on.

"Agent Bristow," he addressed Sydney directly, "your report says that Irina Derevko told you the fluid was not meant for you and that it is why it made you lose your memory. She was right. Actually, the fluid is specifically meant for one person and one person only. The Passenger. Injected into The Chosen One, it, I quote, 'places her in a state of blissful ignorance'..."

"Wait, so you knew, since the moment I came back from Florence, you knew what had caused my loss of memory? And you didn't tell anybody at the CIA?"

"The DSR suspected the Rambaldi fluid had been employed on you, but we couldn't be sure…"

"That's bullsht!"

"We think you have been released because whoever injected you with the fluid knew that as The Chosen One, killing you would jeopardize Rambaldi's endgame," resumed the man, imperturbable.

"So why inject me in the first place if they knew I am The Chosen One?"

"Like us, they thought The Chosen One and The Passenger might be the same person. It was worth a try and couldn't kill you, only erase your memory."

"You son of a btch! You wanted to try the fluid on me too!" Sydney suddenly realised. If they had gotten their hands on the fluid, they would have taken her into custody to verify their insane theory, even while knowing what consequence it would have for her. The people that had taken her had only beat the DSR to the point.

"I can neither confirm nor deny that information, Agent Bristow, but now we know for certain you are not The Passenger. We need to find that person and the Rambaldi fluid to test it on whoever actually is The Passenger. Gentlemen, Miss, the DSR expects your complete cooperation on this. We'll be waiting to hear from you, don't fail."

The new goal of the CIA was to find The Passenger and inject him or her with the Rambaldi fluid so the CIA, or the DSR, it was unclear, could recover yet another one of his artefacts before any other agency or faction did.

Their next mission would take Sydney, Vaughn, and Weiss to Agadir, Morocco. The interlocutors in the phone conversation that had started everything were Akmed Mazhar and McKennas Cole. The former had the bottle of Rambaldi fluid and Cole and his gang of merry sociopaths possessed the manuscript. The CIA wanted everything. The items and the men.

Akmed Mazhar and Cole were seated barefoot Indian style on the ground on opposite sides of a table. They were savouring hot mint tea accompanied with bread mixed with honey or peanut pasta. Such eating could take place at any hour of the day, no matter how hot the weather. It was a custom of many other Arabian countries beside Morocco and a sign of friendship. It would be unthinkable, because it would be offensive, to decline an invitation to drink tea. Even Cole gave into the tradition, at least if he wished to buy a batch of the Rambaldi fluid.

Vaughn sat at a Café in plain view of the meeting currently taking place inside the local man's shop. Weiss was assuming the same tourist outfit as Vaughn and was seated at another coffee shop on the opposite side of Vaughn. They blended in perfectly in the thick crowd of tourists passing through the streets of Agadir. They were patiently waiting for the men to show each other's merchandise to act.

Sydney was by herself, going with the flow of tourists. She was covering her partners' back, trying to spot any 'friend' Cole or Akmed could have brought with them. So far, she had seen no one, but the tunics the men wore could easily hide an AK-47 or any other kind of weapon.

Taking a look around her, something caught her eye on the roof of a corner shop. She couldn't see exactly what it was without bringing attention to her. She decided it was worth checking out.

A few minutes later, the eating ritual was finally over and the two men each put a suitcase on the table.

Sydney found a ladder going from the street to the roof of the building on which she saw what she suspected to be a sniper. She didn't know whom he was covering though, and would have to approach with great caution. If she spooked him, the commotion would alert Cole and Akmed and they would run. The CIA mission would be a failure and Kendall would happily pin it on her.

Her comm link crackled as Vaughn talked to her, informing her that he had both items in sight. Weiss reported seeing both the manuscript and the fluid as well and the two agents prepared to move in.

"Freeze," she ordered before the sniper could shoot. The woman, whom Sydney had identified as such a few seconds before shouting her order, effectively froze. Sydney had approached her from behind on the right, to have her trigger finger in sight, just in case. "Twitch your finger and I'll blow your head off," added Sydney for good measure. She could be aiming at anything, most likely Vaughn or Weiss, who were not two meters away from their targets.

"Sydney," stated the sniper, still in position of shooting with her eye on the sight.

The young agent was startled to recognize her mother's voice but didn't lose her concentration. "Lift your right hand slowly and drop the rifle on the ground."

"Sydney I don't have time for this, you need to listen to me…"

"I'll count to three and shoot if you don't comply and push your gun away," Sydney ordered, anxious about her mother's stubborn refusal to relinquish the weapon.

"I don't intend to shoot anybody," she tried to argue again, to no avail.

"One, two…"

"Alright," agreed Irina, swiftly letting go of the gun and shoving it to her right. "Now will you listen to me?"

"Boy-scout, Twinkie, what's your status?" Asked Sydney while trying to ignore her mother's pleas.

"Mountaineer, this is Twinkie, we've secured the manuscript and the fluid, but the targets got away," reported Weiss. "Boy Scout is in pursuit."

"I lost them," Vaughn piped in.

"Forget them, I've got Derevko on the roof directly in front of the meeting place, I need help."

"Copy that, on our way."

"Sydney listen to me...you owe me that much," tried Irina.

"I know what I owe you. And, while I'm thankful that you helped me regain my memory, that doesn't make you any less dangerous and that doesn't give you immunity, from me or from the CIA. I'm sorry but I can't let you interfere with my work."

"Sydney you can't let the CIA have the fluid," stated Irina, slowly getting up from her crouching position.

"Don't move," ordered Sydney, fully aware that her mother was probably carrying as many guns and knifes as she herself was. Despite her best efforts, her curiosity was pricked by Irina's frantic plea. "Why shouldn't I? So you can have it yourself?"
"No! I don't want it, I want to destroy it! That's what I was aiming at!" Protested Irina, taking one step forward.

"Why would you do that? You don't like the colour?"

"Because whoever has the Rambaldi fluid could do great damage!"

"It's inoffensive," snapped Sydney.

"It's not to The Passenger. Whoever has the fluid will go after The Passenger."

"So what, you're trying to protect The Passenger now? Do you even know who it is?"

"Yes, I do. And that's why I won't let you or anyone have that fluid," she concluded before grabbing Sydney's arm and punching her in the face in a classical, but efficient maneuver. Sydney was smart enough to let go of her gun before Irina could get to it but the woman didn't mind. She grabbed Sydney in a chokehold and grabbed her own gun from the waistband of her jeans just as Agent Vaughn appeared at the top of the ladder, gun raised.

Irina had had a fifty-fifty chance of being shot but she was confident her vest would protect her. Sydney had hesitated just long enough for her to step closer and overpower her. Irina knew her daughter would have never made that mistake with anyone else and was grateful Sydney had scruples about shooting her mother.

Sydney's lover was followed by none other than Agent Weiss, probably the 'Twinkie' Sydney had called on her comm. "Agent Vaughn, Agent Weiss, nice of you to join us," she greeted, smiling at the two men.

"Let her go," yelled Vaughn, bravely stepping forward.

"I don't think so. Drop the Rambaldi fluid and step back. Then we'll talk about Sydney."

"You're outnumbered," interjected Agent Weiss. "We're two and you're one, in case you have trouble counting." He saw Vaughn twitch and couldn't himself believe that he was mocking the dangerous Irina Derevko. "Sorry, bad joke, humour helps relax me," he mumbled, more for himself than the other three.

"But I have a hostage," she pointed out, tightening the arm wrapped around Sydney's throat to make her point. "A hostage who needs to breathe, so I'm not asking you, but I am 'telling' you. Drop your guns and the Rambaldi fluid." As an afterthought, she added, "and the manuscript too."

She didn't tell them Cole had stolen it from her and memorized it. She didn't tell them that reading it had allowed her to understand and treat Sydney's condition from memory. She couldn't allow them to read it, even if it would be useless because the fluid would be no more. It revealed too much about The Chosen One and The Passenger. It told how to find The Passenger, how to use the fluid on her, how it would help her channel Rambaldi and find The Sphere of Life.

"You wouldn't kill your own daughter," confidently challenged Vaughn.

"No, I wouldn't," she agreed while releasing some of the pressure, much to Sydney's relief. Then, on a threatening note, she added, moving her gun from Sydney's head to her side, "but I could seriously hinder her ability to have children with you, or with anyone for that matter." She felt Sydney shudder in disgust or fear, reminding her of their time together, when Sydney had amnesia and couldn't stand even looking at her. Everything was so much simpler then. Agent Vaughn's face went a shade paler while his companion's took on a look of pure horror.

That people actually believed her to be heartless enough to do such a thing to her own child sometimes pained her, especially when said people were close to her. Today, she had acted on it hoping the agents would believe her cruel enough to execute her threat.

"Mom?" started Sydney, unable to believe what was happening to her. What was so important about The Passenger that Irina was willing to threaten her? She had had the distinct impression that Irina was trying to befriend her. First, during her time in CIA custody, and then when their roles had been reversed and Sydney was playing the prisoner, though Irina had never admitted she was. She briefly wondered if her mother would have really let her go without curing her as she had offered. Now Irina was acting more like when she was in Taipei…cold and cruel.

"Quiet," ordered Irina, tightening her hold on Sydney's neck in hopes of making her stop talking. She couldn't bear to hear the pain in her daughter's voice. Sydney would never recover from that betrayal. Neither would she.

Sydney hated Rambaldi because of the pain he brought in so many people's lives, including her own, but her allegiance to her country was so strong…probably stronger than her loyalty to her family. If it was so, then Sydney would run to the CIA with the identity of The Passenger and all would be lost. She was so naïve sometimes, and so trustful of the CIA. She would assume the fluid was harmless and that The Passenger would be released after delivering the location of the Sphere of Life. Irina knew better. If the CIA or anyone else got their hands on Nadia, she would never be free again.

"Alright," said Weiss who complied by throwing his gun at his feet.

Irina was pleasantly surprised at the turn of events. Agent Weiss had beaten Sydney's lover, pushing her to wonder if he didn't have a thing for her daughter. She quickly dismissed the thought as Agent Vaughn finally listened to the voice of reason and reached for his bag after setting his gun down.

He slowly stepped forward, one hand raised, the other holding out the bag.

"Leave it there," indicated Irina. "Go back and turn around. You too Agent Weiss." Before the two men's hesitation, she smirked. "Don't worry, if I wanted to shoot you I would do so while facing you." Apparently reassured, they complied and left their hands at their side, where she could see them.

"Take the bottle," she directed Sydney, walking halfway on the roof where Vaughn had dumped his satchel. Grunting, the female agent did as she was told and let herself be led back toward their previous position. "Open it and empty it. Come on," prompted Irina when Sydney hesitated.

"Alright."

"No peeking," she scolded Vaughn who had instinctively turned at the sound of his lover's hoarse voice.

"Now what?" Asked Sydney, furious at being forced to do her mother's dirty work. She suddenly felt Irina's iron grip vanish and was spun around. She felt more than saw the butt of a gun connect with her forehead and fell unceremoniously on the roof top, moaning.

"Stay back!" Yelled Irina at the two men. "She's fine," she added, glancing at Sydney whose hand was covered in blood. Maybe she had hit a little harder than necessary. She bit her lip, willing the guilt to go away. There was no time for that now.

If only she could tell Sydney who was The Passenger, her daughter would understand why it was so important that the fluid be destroyed. She would forgive her mother for going so far as to threaten her of physical harm to get her way. But she couldn't tell her, it was too dangerous because she couldn't trust her reaction. So for now, and probably for years to come, Sydney would resent her for this day.

Focusing back on the task at hand, she lighted a flare brought especially for this occasion and ran the fiery end over the pool of greenish liquid, insuring that nothing exploitable remained of it when she was done. Next, she took the manuscript from the bag and barely glanced at it before setting it on fire. The old paper consumed rapidly until only ashes remained. She scattered them with her foot and watched as they blew away with the wind. Satisfied, she glanced at Sydney and was met with a heated, if not blurry, glare.

"Why do you always have to hit me?" Mumbled Sydney incoherently.

"So you can tell the CIA you could do nothing to keep me from destroying the fluid," calmly explained Irina while still pointing her gun at her daughter's male counterparts. "I doesn't mean I don't love you," she added before disappearing down the wall.

Agent Vaughn and Weiss rushed to their friend and helped her up. They glanced down to see the elusive Irina Derevko had disappeared. Who knew her capable of climbing down a gutter as easily as a cat burglar?

Irina left the city with a heavy heart, knowing that her job was done. The Passenger was safe now. She regretted that losing one daughter was what it took to protect the other.

TBC